JP Official Forums are also criticizing the Dawntrail MSQ.

[Daralii]

I think a lot of it is that a chill story with lower stakes is often something where the plot might take a backseat, and the experience is carried by interesting worldbuilding and character interactions. For a new beginning, this is a good thing and I think a lot of people wanted that.

Only...the vast consensus is that the character interactions fell flat.

It breaks my heart, too. Didn't the head writer of DT do the Black Mage Role Quests? Those were fantastic.

[Basteala]

Yeah that's my point. There's some legitimately good stuff there! And it makes me wonder what in the hell happened q.q